Setting Trace and Cursor Parameters

Traces in Spectrum View

1. Clear/Write and Peak Detection: This is the default trace setting. The trace is cleared during each sweep and the largest measurement point is used for each display point. 2. Max Hold and Peak Detection: Each trace point retains its maximum value and the largest measurement point is used for each display point. 3. Min Hold and Negative Detection: Each trace point retains its minimum value and the smallest measurement point is used for each display point. 4. Clear/Write and Negative Detection: Trace points are cleared during each sweep and the smallest measurement point is used for each display point. 5. Average and RMS/Average Detection: The trace points are an average of all previous N sweeps, where N is the AVERAGES setting. RMS/Average detection depends on the video bandwidth type setting (BANDWIDTH > VBW TYPE): When VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Linear, this method detects the average power of measurement points that go into the display point. When VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Logarithmic, the traditional average of log (power) is displayed. 6. Rolling Average: The average of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES setting.

TRACE Menu
	SELECT Selects traces 1 through 6. Selecting a trace that is off turns the trace on. The trace type will be Clear/Write, the trace mode will be Active, and the detector type will be Peak. Selecting a trace will draw the trace on top of all other traces. This feature is not available in the spectrogram measurement view because all spectrogram data are created from a single trace. TYPE Selects one of the following types of traces: • Clear/Write: Clears the trace after each sweep is complete and writes a new trace. • Average: The average of all N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Max Hold: Represents the maximum value since sweeping began. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Min Hold: Represents the minimum value since sweeping began. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Rolling Average: Is the rolling average of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Rolling Max Hold: Is the maximum rolling average value of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Rolling Min Hold: Is the minimum value of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. TRACE MODE Selects one of the following trace modes: • Active: Displays the selected trace as it is updating. • Hold/View: Displays the trace and it is not updating. It displays the last sweep from when the trace mode was set to hold/view. If the frequency or bandwidth settings are changed while a trace is in hold/view mode, the data will be blanked from the screen. In order to see data again, set the trace mode to active. • Blank: Does not display the trace and is not updating. It is the same as if the trace was off.
	DETECTOR TYPE Selects one of three detector types. Several detection methods tailor the function of the instrument to meet specific measurement requirements. There are often more measurement points across the screen than display points. The various detection methods are different ways of dealing with how measurement points will be shown at each display point (see Trace Detector Types). • Peak: This method causes the highest amplitude measurement point to be shown for each display point, assuring that a narrow peak is not missed. • RMS/Avg: In the default case, when the VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Linear, this method detects the average power of measurement points that go into the display point. When VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Log, the traditional average of log (power), such as dBm, is displayed for the detector, as well as for VBW and trace average. • Negative: This method causes the lowest amplitude measurement point to be shown for each display point. This method is also useful when looking at modulated signals, to see if some frequencies are not being used. CLEAR Clears the currently active trace data. AVERAGES Sets the number of trace sweeps (N) to average. Available when the trace type is set to one of the averaging modes. PRESET DETECTORS Sets all trace detectors to Peak. PRESET TRACES Presets cursor and trace setup to Clear/Write, Active, with Peak Detector.

Trace Detector Types

1. Yellow trace set to Peak detection. 2. Green trace set to RMS/Ave detection. 3. Blue trace set to Negative detection.

The screenshot in Figure: Spectrogram View shows the MS276xA with all six cursors enabled on a signal. Cursors are shown on the spectrogram as white lines. The active cursor is a solid white line and other cursors show as dashed white lines. Cursors can be directly selected and dragged to position on the display or set via the TRACE > CURSOR menu. Cursors and their settings can also be accessed via the left side status panel by touching a cursor in the CURSORS table. The START time is the most recently completed sweep and the beginning of the spectrogram display. The STOP time is the total time length of the spectrogram, essentially the amount of time it takes for all completed sweeps to progress from the bottom to the top of the spectrogram window. The stop time will vary depending on the sweep speed, which can be faster or slower depending on settings such as span and RBW.

Spectrogram View

1. Color Bar settings are used to adjust the colors displayed at different amplitude levels. The color bar shown here represents the range of colors that will be displayed. This bar can be dragged up or down to adjust the coverage area. If signals or noise is outside of the color bar range, then black is displayed. The color bar top and bottom setting, and the overall hue to the color range is set via the SETUP Menu (Spectrogram View). 2. The traces shown in Spectrogram view are updated when the data in the spectrogram lands on the associated cursor. The traces show sweep data from that respective point in time. The bandwidth and amplitude settings in the example above were changed. Traces 1 through 3 reflect the changed settings while traces 4 through 6 are showing sweep data from earlier points in time. To freeze the spectrogram, stop the instrument from sweeping by toggling off Sweep Continuously. 3. The transition in the spectrogram here shows when the amplitude and bandwidth settings were changed. 4. The spectrogram START and STOP times shown here represent the full duration of all 142 sweeps shown in the spectrogram window. Cursors 1 through 6 are positioned throughout the spectrogram and can be dragged or set to a new time or position using the TRACE CURSOR Menu (Spectrogram View). Cursors can also be selected via the left side status menu CURSORS table. The bottom of the table shows the reference trace (T0) and its settings. The reference trace setting apply to all traces shown in the spectrum display.

TRACE Menu (Spectrogram View)
	TYPE Selects one of the following types of traces: • Clear/Write: Clears the trace after each sweep is complete and writes a new trace. • Min Hold: Represents the minimum value since sweeping began. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Max Hold: Represents the maximum value since sweeping began. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Average: The average of all N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Rolling Max Hold: Is the maximum rolling average value of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Rolling Min Hold: Is the minimum value of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. • Rolling Average: Is the rolling average of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table. DETECTOR TYPE Selects one of three detector types. Several detection methods tailor the function of the instrument to meet specific measurement requirements. There are often more measurement points across the screen than display points. The various detection methods are different ways of dealing with how measurement points will be shown at each display point (see Trace Detector Types). • Peak: This method causes the highest amplitude measurement point to be shown for each display point, assuring that a narrow peak is not missed. • RMS/Avg: In the default case, when the VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Linear, this method detects the average power of measurement points that go into the display point. When VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Log, the traditional average of log (power), such as dBm, is displayed for the detector, as well as for VBW and trace average. High Only or Low Only settings results in faster overall sweep speed, but with no spur or image reduction at all. • Negative: This method causes the lowest amplitude measurement point to be shown for each display point. This method is also useful when looking at modulated signals, to see if some frequencies are not being used. CLEAR Clears the currently active trace data. AVERAGES Sets the number of trace sweeps (N) to average. Available when the trace type is set to one of the averaging modes. PRESET TRACES Presets cursor and trace setup to Clear/Write, Active, with Peak Detector. CURSOR Opens the TRACE CURSOR Menu (Spectrogram View).

TRACE / CURSOR Menu (Spectrogram View)
	MODE Every trace captured in the spectrogram has a time and a position index. Set the location of the spectrogram cursor based on either the time index or the position index. When position is selected, you can change the position index of the cursor from the POSITION button. If Time is selected, you can set the time index of the cursor from the TIME button. • POSITION: Available when a position cursor is selected. You can change the sweep position index of the selected spectrogram cursor in relation to the number of total sweeps in the spectrogram. The number of sweeps in the spectrogram is based on the size of the spectrogram window, so the sweep index changes when changing the spectrogram cursor position index. The spectrum view also displays the currently selected trace on top of any other traces. A position of 0 (zero) represents the most recent (or live) trace. Entry into this field is disabled when the spectrogram cursor mode is set to Time. • TIME: Available when a time cursor is selected. You can change the time index of the selected spectrogram cursor in relation to the start and stop time displayed in the spectrogram. The time in the spectrogram is based on the size of the spectrogram window, so the time changes when changing the spectrogram cursor time index. The spectrum view also displays the currently selected trace on top of other traces. A time of 0 (zero) represents the most recent (or live) trace. Entry into this field is disabled when the spectrogram cursor mode is set to Position. SELECT Used to add additional cursors or to set the active cursor on the spectrogram. The active cursor also displays the associated trace on top of other traces in the spectrum display. For more information, refer to Spectrogram with Cursors and Markers. STATE Selects one of the following cursor states: • Active: Displays the selected trace as it is updating. • Blank: Does not display the trace and is not updating. It is the same as if the trace was off. POSITION/TIME This button sets the position or time value for the trace.


	Anritsu Company 1-800-ANRITSU 10450-00063, Rev. D